REVIEW: Reciprocity by VCTRE

Once I heard the granular growl in “Basket Case” I knew we were headed for greatness.

VCTRE hardly disappoints, one of the leading names in experimental bass and collaborating with the likes of EAZYBAKED, Mr. Bill, Omnist, OkayJake, Minnesota, Sumthin sumthin, and Black Carl!, VCTRE infuses an irresistible energy with forward thinking sound design and emotional composition begging for a re-listen. VCTRE is the real deal, through and through, with SoundCloud releases dating back eight years. In fact, VCTRE is a major reason I fell in love with contemporary bass music. With releases like Enemies, Do It Live!, and the Tiedye Ky Earth Remix, VCTRE became a household name in underground bass music, and that was before an onslaught of longer form projects that solidified his talent, including Animagus, Palindrome, Toad Juice, and East Kings Point. Everything VCTRE touches turns to gold, I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again.

A master of commandeering moods, VCTRE utilizes tracks like “Up In The Joint” to build intensity in the listener, guiding through ominous beats and subtle build ups. VCTRE is a genius at creating tension and keeping the audience engaged through composition and creating setting. He doesn’t need to sling banger after banger of the most high energy tracks to accomplish his task of captivating a new fan, he just needs to master the art of storytelling and connection, which I’ve never seen VCTRE fail.

I remember hearing “Reverse Naes” for the first time at a Resonant Language show at Warehouse on Watts. VCTRE opened and featured an arsenal of unreleased tracks and I’ll never forget this song. My head did a 180 degree split toward the stage. Everyone in the audience turned their attention and dialed into the artist at work. The energy is downright cool, menacing, and futuristic, seizing you by the throat. The epitome of bass music, Reverse Naes is ferrsure one of the hottest bangers of the year, most likely featured on a plethora of local and friendly USB drives across the country.
A testament to the reason we all love bass music. Bass. A mountain, brick wall, wormhole of bass to the face. We love it, we’re here for it.

“In My Head” is another reminder that VCTRE is capable of any musical palette, ranging from absolute psychotic banger to ambient emotional overtures, VCTRE knows what he’s doing. This range of emotions provides a stunning setting for a live set, as the audience is exposed to the highs and lows of life and everything in between, a musical expose into the mindset of the producer and into the complexity of living.

I would never miss a VCTRE set if I were you, it doesn’t sound like beeps and boops, it sounds and feels like music. Real music. This isn’t soulless commercial EDM, this is the future of listening. EDM gets a bad reputation for being repetitive, drug music, and VCTRE is here to put the reputation to rest. While his music is outrageous in a club setting, in fact absolutely bonkers; it also suits the audiophile, headphone listener all the same. This is heady, introspective music for all settings. This is for the music connoisseur. Not to mention VCTRE DJ’s with half of his body due to a diagnosis of cerebral palsy. You’re telling me VCTRE’s putting on twice the show with half the body at work? You’re kidding me. This puts the Mad Decent Block Party to shame. It’s about the music, not how you’re moving on stage.

VCTRE doesn’t get by on cheap thrills, cheesy drops, and overworked sound design. VCTRE is a master producer, showcasing years of hardworking and talent in order to bring an original project to the table. And does he succeed?
Listening to his finale song, “Crash Course” the brilliance of the project comes to light as he expands upon the bass blows of Reverse Naes and the ambient landscape of “In My Head”, proving one last time that VCTRE is a popular word in underground bass venues across the USA.

Not to mention I heard the guy share’s his production tips and tricks in online classes. Sick.

We’re always awaiting a VCTRE release because we know the chance of disappointment is low. Crunchy, distorted, halftime beats and introspective symphonies, Reciprocity affirms VCTRE’s playing in the big leagues.

Don’t sleep on guy.